Allergies to oak pollen typically present with symptoms of a runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes and sneezing. These allergies are known as allergic rhinitis. According to MayoClinic.com, allergic rhinitis affects 1 in 5 people, though not all of these people are affected by oak pollen. An allergy to oak pollen is classified as seasonal allergic rhinitis since the symptoms affect the patient only when oak pollen is present as opposed to throughout the entire year.
Cause
Allergic symptoms to oak pollen occur when the body's immune system mistakenly reacts to the pollen as a harmful substance. The immune system produces antibodies to the oak pollen, which results in a reaction every time the pollen is encountered. This reaction involves the release of chemicals, particularly histamine, which result in symptoms of nasal congestion, sneezing and itching. Since oak pollen levels are highest in the spring, oak allergy symptoms are often at their worst during this time of year.
Types
Allergy to oak pollen can cause a variety of symptoms. These symptoms begin after exposure to the allergen and often resemble the symptoms of the common cold. A patient may experience nasal congestion, watery or itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing. Some patients note a decrease of taste or smell. Additionally, a patient may experience facial pain from mucus buildup and may develop redness and swelling of the eyelids and of the area under the eye. Allergic rhinitis should never be associated with a fever, however.
Diagnosis
An allergy to oak pollen can often be diagnosed by associating the symptoms of allergic rhinitis to oak pollen season. An allergist can also perform testing to diagnose the source of the allergy. Skin prick testing is a test in which a small amount of the allergenic substance is scratched onto the surface of the skin. The allergist waits 20 minutes and then measures the size of the reaction to determine whether a patient's body is reacting to that particular allergen. An oak pollen allergy can also be diagnosed through a blood test in which the antibodies to oak pollen are measured in the blood. In most clinics, the skin prick testing is preferred because there are fewer false negative test results.
Treatment
Several different medications can be used to treat the symptoms of an oak pollen allergy. The most effective medication is a nasal corticosteroid. This medication is sprayed into the nose and decreases the nasal inflammation that is present. This medication must be used on a daily basis to be effective. Antihistamines can be used whenever symptoms are severe and help to decrease runny nose and itching. Nasal antihistamines are also available to help with symptoms.
Prevention/Solution
The most effective way to prevent symptoms of an oak allergy is to avoid oak pollen. While this is difficult during the spring, keeping the windows closed and using the air conditioning instead as well as avoiding outdoor activities during this time period may be helpful. Additionally, immunotherapy can be used to prevent allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy involves injections given over several years in which a very small amount of allergen is originally given and the amount is increased over time. Ultimately, the patient no longer responds to oak allergen when he encounters it.
